[Why didn't the Soviets / Russian use Depleted Uranium in their armor]

Two being 'Butterbrot'  (buttered slice of bread) and 'Schlagbaum' (turnpike). Says a lot about history.

 

Not only that. For example Russian word for "dancing" - "tantzevat'" bears striking resemblance of Geman word "tanzen"

German culture has great influence on Russian in 18-19 centuries. 

[Artillery barrage effects]

What are artillery barrage effects apart from inflicting direct damage?

 

I assume that units being shot at must become disoriented and shaken. 

They sould have higher reaction times, spotting penalties and lowered accuracy of fire.

Are this effects modeled in game?

 

Pragmatical question: are harrasing barrages really useful in "softening" enemy positions before assault even if no unit was destroyed by shelling?

["Normal" level of casualties]

Well, I've to reference models of "normality"

First : casualties in particular engagement are "normal" if they leave enought forces intact to finish mission.

Second: using some standards, like "when assaulting town 2-to-1 casualties of attacker are acceptable"

[Any guidance for newbies? Have no idea how to play :(]

I remember ArmA! Lots of fun! But it's been a while. ArmA and CM:Black Sea are two different worlds. You will need to stop thinking like a squad leader and think more like a Company commander. Maybe even a Battalion Commander if the map is big enough (Which is the case in a few scenarios of the older titles).

 

Actually ArmA 2 and higher contain "High Command" module which enables player to play "First-Person commander" of company-sized force. 

First person perspective adds completely new dimension to gameplay. You have no "god view", only map with tactical symblos. If you want to view things closer you have to risk your life.

 

Great potential, but it has very limited command options and very dumb AI that is routinely doing stupid thigs, like suicidal tank charges right into middle of enemy territory. 

[Any guidance for newbies? Have no idea how to play :(]

..The most helpful (to me) were FM 3-21.94 (SBCT IBT Recon Platoon) ...

 

Funny, this reference was blocked for me when I accessed it from my Russian IP addresses.

VPN proxy saved the day

 

I've read MDCP 1-3, great thing! 

 

Funny enought, I find that many of ideas and principles stated there to be very useful in my field of work - software development.

[Why didn't the Soviets / Russian use Depleted Uranium in their armor]

Agiel, thanks for detailed answer. 

[Why didn't the Soviets / Russian use Depleted Uranium in their armor]

Its wolfram in German too. Most of the old (English speaking) history buffs no doubt first heard that name associated with German squeeze-bore cannon ammo in WWII.

 

I beleive "wolfram" is a loanword from German. Russian language has several words borrowed from German.

[Why didn't the Soviets / Russian use Depleted Uranium in their armor]

DU self harpens, to the best of my knowledge tungsten doesn't.

Quite interesting. 

Why DU self-sharpens?

[Why didn't the Soviets / Russian use Depleted Uranium in their armor]

Ah! Wolfram! Its been ages since I've heard that other name for tungsten!  Atomic number 74, I believe. 

 

Oh, yes, tungsten indeed  

In Russian it's "wolfram", forgot about "tungsten"

[Why didn't the Soviets / Russian use Depleted Uranium in their armor]

Are DU munitions and armour really best choice? 

I've read somewhere that wolfram sabots are better but more expensive.

[Unit cost question]

What else did you think it might represent?

It was my primary hypothesis.

Asked just to be sure

 

Thanks for answer.

[Unit cost question]

Does unit cost represent their estimated battle value or some other property?

I mean, having Red and Blue sides equal force "budget" means they have forces of same estimated battle value (despite differing equipment) or not?

[Armor Protection Data for T-90 series seems to be underestimated]

It this ERA bug admitted by developers? 

Is fix pending?

["Normal" level of casualties]

Odds are they are benefiting not just from being stationary, but also have dismounted infantry eyes aiding in their spotting. Try using mortars -- or any responsive tube, really -- to work the area over before you advance and see how that works out.

I've pounded them with off-map howitzers.

 

Also Bradleys "laser chicken" helped me a lot.

I've lased them with my foot ATGM teams.

They popped smokes everywhere around them thus blocking their own view.

Meanwhile, I've managed to get to my position safely.

["Normal" level of casualties]

alexey, that's very good performance. When playing against the US as the Russians, you need to be very careful and use good tactics. Its an unforgiving opponent. 

Unfortunately, I've achieved this by relentless save/load retries.  

So, it doesn't count. 

 

P.S. Reading USMC tactical book (a reference I've receviced in my first topic) gave me some insights how to do things better

Unfortunately, Russian tactical books are seem to be classified.

["Normal" level of casualties]

Well, finally managed to do it. Sheer luck, I suppose. Called in artillery barrage and carefully moved in by armour. Bradleys got caught in crossfire.

I've only lost weapons on one of my MT-LBs. Still have to clear forest from remaining infantry.

 

I think I have to get rid of my perfectionism

["Normal" level of casualties]

I'am still new to this game, get my training via QBs.

 

Now I'am trying to solve little problem. I have a tree line with 2 enemy plattons covered in it. 3xBradley, 3xStrykers + appropriate infantry. It is semisurronded by my mechanized infantry company (9xBMP-2M, Infantry, ATGM squads in MT-LBs). Artillery support included. 

 

I've tried this engagement for a couple of times. No matter how I try, I still lose al least 2 BMPs while I deal with enemy armour and then several (~10-15) soldiers while cleaning up forest of infantry. 

 

So, my question is: what level of casualties you would consider "normal" (or acceptable) in this scenario?

 

And, btw, how to reduce chances of enemy vehiles firind back accurate shots? 

 

Bradleys seem to aim quickier and more accurate that my BMPs. Once I move in my BMPs they kill them quickly because of numerical superiority, but those bastards still manage to punch holes in my vehicles.

 

P.S. Maybe bring more forces? I have another company sitting idle nearby.

[Any way to turn off backgound battle sound?]

Is there any way to turn off background battle sound while leaving all other sounds as they are?

[Any guidance for newbies? Have no idea how to play :(]

Wow, so many good answers in such a short time! 

Thank you, I've got some tricks I'am going to use and a lot of stuff to read

[Any guidance for newbies? Have no idea how to play :(]

I've recently bought this game. Was attracted by it's realistic approach, like "ArmedAssault meets RTS". Went though tutorial, now playing quick battles (tiny ones) to get my hands on tactics. Trying "probe" or "assault" scenario types, playing Russians against US.

 

Low difficulty settings, +150% force modifier... still I'am helpless against AI

 

Any time I advance my troops they are getting spotted and shot at by invisible enemy. Most of time they can't even fight back. 

Tried to send recon vehicles - same story. Tried to send foot recon (observers, snipers) - they simply do not see anything.

Called in recon UAVs, never got any recon data from it.

Few times my snipers detected enemy infantry in same forest patch, but never successfully engaged them. 

 

Speaking short, I don't have slightest idea how to play this game right So I've concluded that I strongly need some theoretic basis on tactics. This game is too complex for simple "trial and error" approach. But I've failed to find any strategy guide for this game or previous games of this title setted in modern combat environment.

 

Can you help me with references to good reading material or useful tips on tactics (preferrably for Reds) applicable to this game?

 

Thanks in advance